Electrical outlet box installation tool

ABSTRACT

A handtool with opposed movable jaws adapted to grip an electrical outlet box and position same in forwardly offset relationship to a wall stud for subsequent attachment thereto. A plate member carried by one of the jaws carries an adjustable guide bar to position the outlet box on the tool to accomplish the desired forward offset from the wall stud. The offset distance is to accommodate the thickness of wallboard to be applied to the wall stud. A portion of the plate member abuts the front surface of the wall stud for positioning in one vertical plane while the outlet box itself, securely held in the tool, abuts a side surface of the wall stud during attachment of the box to the stud.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edward A. Strange Florence, Oreg.[21] Appl. No. 860,891 [22] Filed Sept. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 2,1971 [7 3] Assignee Frank V. Suniga Oakridge, Oreg. a part interest [54]ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX INSTALLATION Primary Examiner-William S. LawsonAttorneyJames D. Givnan, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A handtool with opposed movable jaws adapted to grip anelectrical outlet box and position same in forwardly offset relationshipto a wall stud for subsequent attachment thereto. A plate member carriedby one of the jaws carries an adjustable guide bar to position theoutlet box on the tool to accomplish the desired forward offset from thewall stud. The offset distance is to accommodate the thickness ofwallboard to be applied to the wall stud. A portion of the plate memberabuts the front surface of the wall stud for positioning in one verticalplane while the outlet box itself, securely held in the tool, abuts aside surface of the wall stud during attachment of the box to the stud.

PAIE-NTEBunv 2 IBTI l I I I J \IIA I II 134A 1 l I DA II I i I LII I IIIN VENTOR. EDWARD A. STRANGE AGENT ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX INSTALLATIONTOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generallyto handtools and more particularly to a handtool for accuratelypositioning an electrical outlet box for attachment to a wall stud of abuildmg.

Electrical outlet box installation conventionally includes theattachment of the metal or plastic boxlike structure eventually housinga switch or socket to a wall stud member during wall construction. Inwooden frame construction, outlet boxes are commonly affixed to wallstudding of a partially completed wall structure with the associatedelectrical conduits and switches or sockets being later installedtherein prior to the completion of the wall.

Installation of the outlet box involves the ofi'setting of the box frontedge or perimeter from the wall studding in order that the front edgewill be substantially flush with the planar surface of the wall whenapplied. In addition to being forwardly offset from the studding thefront edge of the box must be in parallel relationship with the stud inorder that the cover plate may be properly mounted over the box and thebordering wallboard material.

Electrical outlet box manufacturers have to some extent recognized theproblems of box installations and now stamp calibrated indices to assistin offsetting of the box. Premounted nails in the box or clips punchedfrom the box also facilitate attachment but neither the premountedfasteners or stamped calibrations now available assure correctpositioning of the box on the wall stud.

Another aspect to consider is the difficult working conditions underwhich outlet box installation is accomplished. For instance the lightingor visual conditions are usually poor in partially completed buildings.Further, electrical outlet boxes are often installed in corner areas ofwalls or down low adjacent the floor surface, all contributing to thedifficult securing of the outlet box to a wall member. The installationeven under ideal circumstances requires a great deal of care that boththe required offset is provided for as well as the parallel relationshipbetween wall stud and box is achieved.

The foregoing pointsout the need for a tool of the present type whichpermits uniform outlet box attachment with a much greater accuracy andat a more efficient rate. Further the tool readily lends itself by meansof an adjustable feature, for use in offsetting the outlet boxes thespecific distance required as determined by the thickness of wall-sidingmaterial used. Further the outlet box is securely positioned against thestud during installation. Commonly this siding thickness will rangebetween one-quarter and three-quarters of an inch requiring a likeforward offset in the outlet box front edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a plan view of the present tool operatively holding an outletbox against a sectioned wall stud,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool's forward end taken alongline 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool's forward end showing the jawsof the same disposed preparatory to gripping an outlet box, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the tool's jaw elements and afragment of an outlet box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference tothe drawing wherein applied reference numerals identify parts similarlyidentified in the following specification, the reference numeralindicates generally a handtool embodying the present invention. Forpurposes of illustrating the tool's function, an outlet box generally at11, is shown for attachment to the wall stud member at 12.

The handtool 10 is of the plier type having a fixed jaw 13 integral withan elongate handgrip 14 while a movable jaw 15 pivots about a hinge pin16 interconnecting the jaw members. Linked by a second hinge pin at 17to jaw 15 is an operating lever 18. An overcenter-locking arrangement isprovided by a link 20 pivotally carried by a pivot pin 21 by lever 18with the opposite end of the link 20 abutting an adjustable stop 22.Accordingly upon positioning of the inner end of the stop 22 a fulcrumis thereat provided for the inward swinging of link 20. Upon closing ofthe operating lever 18 toward handgrip I4 the pivot pin 21 will passovercenter past an imaginary line between hinge pin 17 and the abuttingends of link 20 and stop 22. Hence depending on the location of stop 22an overcenter lock for the movable jaw 15 may be established throughouta range of jaw positions to enable a sustained gripping action to beexerted on a jaw-held article without continued manual pressure beingrequired. The foregoing handtool structure is well known and is marketedunder the trademark Vise Grip.

The overcenter-locking feature of the above tool securely retains anarticle between the jaws thereof until jaw-opening movement is achievedby forceful movement of lever 18 away from handgrip 14.

The present invention resides in the following described structure innovel combination with the above-mentioned tool to constitute a veryuseful tool capable of performing functions heretofore not attainablewith existing tools.

Oppositely secured to the existing jaws of the handtool 10 are first andsecond right-angular plate members generally at 24 and 25 adapted to beurged into gripping contact with outlet box 11.

Each plate member 24-25 includes flat surface portions respectively at26 and 27 contactible oppositely in a gripping manner with a wall "A ofoutlet box II. The plate members are disposed medially on theirsupporting jaw members with the surfaces 26-27 being normal to thearcuate path of jaw movement. Each plate member 24-25 is of a length toprovide adequate surface contact with outlet box wall "A for desiredfrictional contact.

Positionably carried on the plate member 25 is a guide bar 30 againstwhich the front edge 1 18 (FIG. 4) of the outlet box wall 11A is placed.The guide bar 30 and particularly its edge 30A thereon is adapted forslidable movement on planar surface 26 with the edge 30A retaining aparallel offset relationship with a remaining portion at 31 of theangular plate member 24. As shown in FIG. 1, portion 31 is adapted forplacement against the front face of a wall stud, indicated at 12A,whereby the aforementioned relationship will insure the front perimeter33 of the outlet box being in a vertical plane parallel to the frontface of the stud.

To achieve the desired forward offsetting of the frontal perimeter 33 ofthe outlet box the guide bar 30, as aforesaid, is positionable andlockable at selected distances from the rightangular plate portion 31 asis best illustrated in FIG. 2. Wallboard, or other siding material, ismanufactured in various thicknesses, thus the guide 30 and subsequentlyits box contacting edge 30A may be located along the surface 26 toencompass the range of wallboard thicknesses. By way of examplewallboards of different thickness are indicated in broken lines at X andY.

Fastening means for securely locking guide bar 30 to the flat surfaceportion 26 are provided in the form of machine screws 34 in threadedengagement with the bar. The shanks of the screws pass through elongateslots at 35 to permit the abovedescribed adjustment with the heads 34A,of the screws extending beyond the slot opening for hearing contact tolock to the Plate. To insure the maintaining of a parallel relationshipbetween the guide bar edge 30A and plate portion 31 projections 36 maybe provided on bar 30 slidably occupying the width of the slot opening.

In operation of the tool the guide 30 is positioned and locked in placea distance from the right-angular portion 31 depending upon thethickness of the wallboard to be applied. The jaws and of course theattached plate numbers 24-25 are opened to admit the placement of thefront edge llB of the outlet box wall 11A against guide bar edge 30A.The stop 22 of the tool is adjusted to provide the desiredovercenterlocking feature whereby successive outlet boxes may besecurely gripped while being installed.

The angular plate portion 31 is then placed into abutting contact withthe face 12A of the stud while simultaneously a lateral force is exertedto firmly place the outlet box against the side of the stud 12. In thetype of outlet box shown preformed fasteners in the form of clips 37,formed from the box, are driven into engagement with the stud by hammerblows. Other outlet boxes currently in use as aforesaid incorporatepreinstalled fasteners to facilitate stud attachment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a plier-type tool having opposing jaws andlocking means for retaining the jaws in clamped relationship, theimprovement providing a tool for holding an electrical outlet box in aforwardly offset relationship to a wall stud to facilitate securement ofthe outlet box thereto, the improvement comprising,

a first plate member of right-angular configuration afiixed crosswise toone of the tool's jaws and having first and second perpendicularlyorientated portions, said first portion forwardly offset from the jawand adapted to abut a wall stud to which an electrical outlet box is tobe installed, said second portion adapted for clamping engagementagainst the outlet box to be installed and defining a pair of parallelslotted areas,

a second plate member affixed in a crosswise manner to the other jaw ofthe tool,

a guide bar adjustably carried by said second portion of the first platemember and having a pair of projections slidably carried in said slottedareas. means carried by said projections for locking said guide bar tosaid second portion at a selected distance from said first portion ofthe first plate member with said projections retaining the guide bar atall times in parallel-spaced relationship to said first portion, and

said first and second plate members adapted to be clamped and locked toopposite sides of a wall of an electrical outlet box with a forward edgeof said box bearing against said guide bar with the setting of said barthereby determining the forward offset of the outlet box from the wallstud when said first portion of the plate member is in abutment with thewall stud, said jaws of the tool securely clamping the outlet box tofacilitate positioning of the box during its attachment to the wallstud.

1. In combination with a plier-type tool having opposing jaws andlocking means for retaining the jaws in clamped relationship, theimprovement providing a tool for holding an electrical outlet box in aforwardly offset relationship to a wall stud to facilitate securement ofthe outlet box thereto, the improvement comprising, a first plate memberof right-angular configuration affixed crosswise to one of the tool''sjaws and having first and second perpendicularly orientated portions,said first portion forwardly offset from the jaw and adapted to abut awall stud to which an electrical outlet box is to be installed, saidsecond portion adapted for clamping engagement against the outlet box tobe installed and defining a pair of parallel slotted areas, a secondplate member affixed in a crosswise manner to the other jaw of the tool,a guide bar adjustably carried by said second portion of the first platemember and having a pair of projections slidably carried in said slottedareas, means carried by said projections for locking said guide bar tosaid second portion at a selected distance from said first portion ofthe first plate member with said projections retaining the guide bar atall times in parallel-spaced relationship to said first portion, andsaid first and second plate members adapted to be clamped and locked toopposite sides of a wall of an electrical outlet box with a forward edgeof said box bearing against said guide bar with the setting of said barthereby determining the forward offset of the outlet box from the wallstud when said first portion of the plate member is in abutment with thewall stud, said jaws of the tool securely clamping the outlet box tofacilitate positioning of the box during its attachment to the wallstud.